Wednesday, August 31, 2016

you mean he fixes motorcycles too?









It all started on our way back from visiting Frank near Portland, Oregon.  Where they have sun breaks.  A noise was coming from my rear wheel on my old Tiger, sounded like brakes.  But checking the pads, they were like new, and the noise so intermittent, it was hard to locate.  But after riding within 350 miles of home, the noise got louder, and then the back wheel started to wobble.  And a quick glance told me the rear wheel bearing was coming apart.  Never a good thing, especially 300 miles from a Triumph dealer.  And so I called Mick, my towing service had agreed to tow it to him, he would order the part.  But he soon called back, Triumph had no parts in stock for it...so what to do?  He suggested I call Shel, the national service manager for Triumph at the time, and see if he could help me.  I knew Shel, and how we met was interesting, our connections even more so.
I knew Bouke, who knew Rick.  Shel worked for Rick at one time, and he knew Mickey.  I knew Mickey, and Bouke, and also had hung out at Rick’s, the local Triumph/Kawasaki store in Bound Brook, New Jersey.  Bouke was the fast guy back then, still might be, and everyone at the shop knew him.  And since we hung out together, I gained access to Rick’s, and was one of the guys.  Which when Shel told me he once worked at Rick’s, and knew Bouke, instantly put me on the inside track.  And since Mick and Shel are best friends, and Mick and I are good friends, I was in good standing from friends past and present. Which in an emergency, is a good thing, for you can never have too many friends.  So I called Shel, who called England, where the bikes are made, and he called me back.  He had been in touch with them just before they closed, they are 8 hours ahead, and they had no stock.  It seems no one had ever needed to replace a rear wheel bearing on one, and they didn’t stock them.  And even engineering at the factory had no specs to offer.  Despite all my connections, no parts, and not even information about the bearing was available.  Was I stuck in Paso?  Was my final ride home on a flat bed, my bike riding behind me on it?
So I called the local tow company, who wouldn’t do it, a 700 mile round trip didn’t interest him, meaning his pocketbook.  So not giving up, my insurance company said they would pay for a rental truck, so back into the phone book to find a one way rental.  Good luck.  But I did find a guy sympathetic to my cause, and when I described to him my situation, explained he was an ex-Honda factory trained mechanic.  He had left the city for a more peaceful life, and did motorcycle repairs, rented trucks, and fixed whatever came into his shop.  He could fix my bike he assured me, and called me later after picking it up at the motel I was stuck at.  He had ordered the part from Honda, it came in a kit, and would have it the next day. He had measured the bearing, crossed it to an industry number, and found it would fit.  Seems he knew more than the factory.  And for all of $91, parts and labor, including the tow, which he did for free, since he was doing the repair.  The bike was apart, when the part arrived overnight on the bus, he would have it when he opened, he would install it, and we could return home.  Which he did, which we did, and passed on the info to Shel in case he ever needed it again.  And by 11am we were on the road.
I have been told and tell others, sometimes it is who you know rather than what you know.  And despite all connections, the one person working behind the scenes, hasn’t been introduced yet.  A loving God, who we call Jesus.  Who too many times is the last person we call on.  Seems we are too busy worrying, or planning, or doing things our way to stop and pray.  But God already has things under control, even rear wheel bearings for a Triumph.  Before we had a problem, God knew it, and had made arrangements to handle it, and he did.  Over the years I have known and dealt with many service managers, and parts managers.  Guys who were very good,and would use their connections, favors as we called them, to get people back on the road.  But we forget that Jesus spent most of his time on the road, and was prepared for our emergency, even if we weren’t.  That nothing surprises God, even if it does us.  And he is always the best, the first, and sometimes the only one to call on.  When I asked someone, “what were the chances of all the people I knew coming up empty despite their connections, but yet finding a Honda mechanic who knew the part and cold fix it 350 miles form a Triumph dealer,” what would you think were the chances?  When the answers came back as anything from a long shot, to good luck, to a million to one, my answer differed.  “100%.”  For with God, it is always 100%, while all these guys had connections, Jesus was and is the connection.  So when someone tells me the way, I know him personally.  I was looking for the way to fix my bike, he was and is the way.  You mean Jesus fixes motorcycles too?
And he gave sight to the blind with no degree.  Made the lame walk while not an orthopedic doctor.  In him doors will open, and also close when needed, and he can fix anything.  But you must let him.  Despite my best efforts, and friends willing to help, he was the way.  And got me to Paso so I could get my bike fixed.  It could have happened on any of the 9000 miles I had ridden that month, it broke in Paso.  Where a rental truck company was owned by an ex-Honda mechanic, he knew a part number, and had it fixed.  In one day.  And you wonder what were the chances?
Today we will face many problems, tests, obstacles, and trials.  Some we can overcome, some need prayer, some need an answer right now.  Maybe an example of an old mechanic who worked for me at Mercedes Benz said it best.  A woman came in with no AC, and he lifted her hood, replaced a fuse, and it started working.  She was amazed, thankful, and asked “how much do I owe?”  His reply, $20.”  “Twenty bucks for a fuse?”  “Yes” he said, “but I knew what fuse...”  Whether fuses or bearings, no matter what the world throws at you, go to Jesus first.  He calls me friend.  Nothing surprises him....does that surprise you?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com